For most texts, and especially for modern texts that are primarily written for their informative content (i.e. with the possible exceptions of literature and poetry), a single basic translation of a text may be created in wiki fashion, as long as it is linked to source text in the original language. For a great many languages, these links can easily be put in the sidebar of any Wikisource subdomain.

For instance, an English translation of a French source-text should include the "fr:" link at the bottom, followed by the French title. With a single click on the sidebar ("in other languages"), the reader of the translation can see the original source-text, or any other translation that exists at Wikisource.

English Wikisource primarily hosts previously published English source texts, and this includes published translations of texts into English.

Where relevant, this also includes multiple published translations of source texts. When there is more than one published translation, and more than one of them is uploaded to Wikisource, they should link to each other, as well as be linked to and from the text in its original language (as well as to translations of the same text in other languages).

There is more than one way to accomplish this:

The clearest and simplest solution is to insert an interwiki language link to a page which lists all translations of the text available in that language.

If there are only a small number of translations (which will usually be the case!), simply provide a language link to one of them in the sidebar. The translation that is linked to (the primary translation) should provide links to other translations in that language.

If the passage is short, it is possible (and sometimes even beneficial) to include parallel translations of the same text on a single page.

It is possible to include more than one language link in the sidebar of the original source-text (e.g. "en:" twice!). In this case each translation must be given names using the template {{Interwiki-info}}.

There should be no single binding policy on how to create links to multiple versions. The best solution is to let each translation project find the method that best suites its own needs.

Wikisource contributers may update, revise, or correct an outdated translation, but the revised translation must be noted as such, and kept separate from the original, previously published translation (which are also kept on Wikisource). Furthermore, the revised translation should link to the original translation upon which it is based.

Suggested policy is to use a template designed for these purposes. For more information, please see the talk page.

For some texts, one new Wikisource translation may not satisfy all needs. This is especially true for poetry and literature, as well as texts from pre-modern times. Wikisource is committed to making texts available as many usable formats as possible, if there are users willing to contribute them.

Some translations may be aimed at an audience of young readers, others may be written for adults. Some may be aimed at monolingual readers, others at students of the language of the source text. Some may be "literary" translations, others may be rather technical. Some source texts, expecially for ancient, classical, or medieval texts, may have a number of variant versions, with significant differences between them. Different translations may reflect different versions of the source text.

In cases where a single translation does not meet all needs, more than one translation may be contributed to Wikisource. When this happens, the methodology, style and goals of each translation should be clearly spelled out and agreed upon by the wiki contributors who participate in that translation project.

It is important to emphasize that different kinds of translations are often truly different works. In such cases, parallel translations can develop separately while being linked for comparison.

For information on how to create links when there is more than one parallel translation, see above ("Multiple published translations").